It is stated that Sir Charles Warren’s bloodhounds were out for practice at Tooting yesterday morning and were lost. Telegrams have been dispatched to all metropolitan police stations stating that if seen anywhere information is to be immediately sent to Scotland Yard.
October 25. During the three days of the week following the Sunday on which the two murders were committed, the following petition to the Queen was freely circulated among the women of the labouring classes of East London: To Our Most Gracious Sovereign Lady Queen Victoria. Madam: We, the women of East London, feel horror at the dreadful sins that have been lately in our midst and grief because of the shame that has befallen the neighbourhood. By the facts which have come out in the inquests, we have learned much of the lives of those of our sisters who have lost a firm hold on goodness and who are living sad and degraded lives. We call on your servants in authority and bid them put the law which already exists in motion to close bad houses within whose walls such wickedness is done, and men and women ruined in body and soul. We are, Madam, your loyal and humble subjects.
October 26.
Letter to the Editor of The Times.
Sir: I have begun to raise a fund, to which I invite contributions from your readers, with a view of powerfully bringing the teachings of Christianity to bear on that corner in Whitechapel which has been disgraced by such hideous crimes. If the Gospel sufficed to change the cannibal inhabitants of the Fiji Islands into a nation of Christian worshippers, it is sufficient—and alone sufficient—to turn the darkest spots in London into the gardens of the Lord. Your obedient servant.
Mary J. Kinnaird.
THE SEVENTH MURDER, NOVEMBER 9
Victim: Mary Jane Kelly
Place: Dorset Street (Miller’s Court)
November 10. During the early hours of yesterday morning another murder of a most revolting and fiendish character took place in Spitalfields. This is the seventh which has occurred in this immediate neighbourhood, and the character of the mutilations leaves very little doubt that the murderer in this instance is the same person who has committed the previous ones, with which the public are fully acquainted.
The scene of this last crime is at No. 26 Dorset Street, which is about two hundred yards distant from [29] Hanbury Street, where the unfortunate woman, Mary Ann Nichols, was so foully murdered. Although the victim, whose name is Mary Jane Kelly, resides at the above number, the entrance to the room she occupied is up a narrow court in which are some half a dozen houses and which is known as Miller’s Court; it is entirely separated from the other portion of the house and has an entrance leading into the court. The room is known by the title of No. 13. As an instance of the poverty of the neighbourhood it may be mentioned that nearly the whole of the houses in this street are common lodging-houses, and the one opposite where this murder was enacted has accommodations for some three hundred men and is fully occupied every night.
About twelve months ago Kelly, who was about twenty-four years of age and who was considered a good-looking young woman of fair and fresh-coloured complexion, came to [the owner] with a man named Joseph Kelly [from the inquest it appears that his name was actually Joseph Barnett], who she stated was her husband and who was a porter employed at the Spitalfields Market. They rented a room on the ground floor, the same in which the poor woman was murdered, at a rental of four shillings a week. It had been noticed that the deceased woman was somewhat addicted to drink, but Mr. M’Carthy [the owner] denied any knowledge that she had been leading a loose or immoral life. That this was so, however, there can be no doubt, for about a fortnight ago she had a quarrel with Kelly and—after some blows were exchanged—the man left the house, or rather room, and did not return. Since then the woman has supported herself as best she could, and the police have ascertained that she has been walking the streets.
None of those living in the court or at 26 Dorset Street saw anything of the unfortunate creature after about eight o’clock on Thursday evening, but she was seen in Commercial Street shortly before the closing of the public house and then had the appearance of being the worse for drink. About one o’clock yesterday morning a person living in the court opposite to the room occupied by the murdered woman heard her singing the song “Sweet Violets,” but this person is unable to say whether anyone else was with her at that time. Nothing more was seen or heard of her until her dead body was found.
At a quarter of eleven yesterday morning, as the woman was 35 shillings in arrears with her rent, Mr. M’Carthy said to a man employed by him in his shop, John Bowyer, “Go to No. 13 and try and get some rent.” Bowyer did as he was directed and on knocking at the door was unable to obtain an answer. He then tried the handle of the door and found that it was locked. On looking through the keyhole he found the key was missing. The lefthand side of the room faced the court and in it were two large windows. Bowyer, knowing that when the man Kelly and the dead woman had their quarrel a pane of glass in one of the windows was broken, went round to the side in question. He put his hand through the aperture and pulled aside the muslin curtain which covered it. On his looking into the room a shocking sight presented itself. He could see the woman lying on the bed, entirely naked, covered with blood, and apparently dead. Without waiting to make a closer examination he ran to his employer and told him he believed the woman Kelly had been murdered. M’Carthy at once went and looked through the broken window, and, satisfying himself that something was wrong, dispatched Bowyer to the Commercial Street Police Station, at the same time enjoining him not to tell any of the neighbours what he had discovered.
Inspector Back, who was in charge of the station at the time, accompanied Bowyer back and on finding that a murder had been committed at once sent for assistance. Dr. Phillips, the divisional surgeon of police, and Superintendent Arnold were also sent for. During this time the door had not been touched. On the arrival of Superintendent Arnold he caused a telegram to be sent direct to Sir Charles Warren, informing him what had happened.
Mr. Arnold, having satisfied himself that the woman was dead, ordered one of the windows to be entirely removed. A horrible and sickening sight then presented itself. The poor woman lay on her back on the bed, entirely naked. Her throat was cut from ear to ear, right down to the spinal column. The ears and nose had been cut clean off. The breasts had also been cleanly cut off and placed on a table which was by the side of the bed. The stomach and abdomen had been ripped open while the face was slashed about so that the features of the poor creature were beyond all recognition. The kidneys and heart had also been removed from the body and placed on the table by the side of the breasts. The liver had likewise been removed and laid on the right thigh. The lower portion of the body and the uterus had been cut out, and these appeared to be missing. The thighs had been cut. A more horrible or sickening sight could not be imagined.
The clothes of the woman were lying by the side of the bed as though they had been taken off and laid down in the ordinary manner. The bedclothes had been turned down, and this was probably done by the murderer after he had cut his victim’s throat. There was no appearance of a struggle having taken place, and although a careful search of the room was made, no knife or instrument of any kind was found.
A somewhat important fact has been pointed out which puts a fresh complexion on the theory of the murders. It appears that the cattle boats bringing live freight to London are in the habit of coming into the Thames on Thursdays or Fridays and leave again for the Continent on Sundays or Mondays. It has already been a matter of comment that the recent revolting crimes have been committed at the week’s end, and an opinion has been formed among some of the detectives that the murderer is a drover or butcher employed on one of these boats—of which there are many—and that he periodically appears and disappears with one of the steamers. It is pointed out that at the inquests on the previous victims the coroners had expressed the opinion that the knowledge of anatomy possessed by a butcher would have been sufficient to enable him to find and cut out the parts of the b
ody which in several cases were abstracted.
A Mrs. Paumier, a young woman who sells roasted chestnuts at the corner of Widegate Street, a narrow thoroughfare about two minutes’ walk from the scene of the murder, told a reporter yesterday afternoon a story which appears to afford a clue to the murderer. She said that about twelve o’clock that morning a man dressed like a gentleman came to her and said, “I suppose you have heard about the murder in Dorset Street?” She replied that she had, whereupon the man grinned and said, “I know more about it than you.” He then stared into her face and went down Sandy’s Row. When he had got some way off, however, he looked back as if to see whether she was watching him and then vanished. Mrs. Paumier said the man had a black moustache, was about five feet six inches high, and wore a black silk hat, a black coat, and speckled trousers. He also carried a black shiny bag about a foot in depth and a foot and a half in length. Mrs. Paumier stated further that the same man accosted three young women whom she knows on Thursday night, and they chaffed him and asked what he had in the bag, and he replied, “Something that the ladies don’t like.”
Late yesterday evening a man was arrested near Dorset Street on suspicion of being concerned in the murder. He was taken to Commercial Street Police Station followed by an angry mob and is still detained there. Another man, respectably dressed, wearing a slouch hat and carrying a black bag, was arrested and taken to Leman Street Station. The bag was examined but its contents were perfectly harmless and the man was at once released.
Inquest on Mary Jane Kelly, November 13
Testimony of Joseph Barnett (called Kelly in the first newspaper reports). Deceased occasionally got drunk but generally speaking she was sober when she lived with him. She had told him several times that she was born in Limerick but removed to Wales when quite young. She had married a collier named Davis in Wales when she was sixteen years of age and lived with him until he was killed in an explosion a year or two afterwards. After her husband’s death she went to Cardiff with a cousin and came to London about four years ago. She lived in a gay house in the West End for a short time and then went to France with a gentleman, but did not like it and soon returned to London, living in Ratcliff Highway near the gasworks with a man named Morganstone. She afterwards lived with a mason named Joseph Fleming somewhere in Bethnal Green. Deceased told witness all her history while she lived with him. Witness picked her up in Spitalfields on a Friday night and made an appointment to meet her the next day, when they agreed to live together and they had done so ever since.
Testimony of Mary Ann Cox. She last saw deceased alive about a quarter to twelve on Thursday night. Deceased was very much intoxicated at that time and was with a short stout man, shabbily dressed, with a round billycock hat on. He had a can of beer in his hand. He had a blotchy face and a heavy carroty moustache. Witness followed them into the court and said goodnight to the deceased, who replied, “Goodnight, I am going to sing.” The door was shut and witness heard the deceased singing, “Only a violet I plucked from mother’s grave.” Witness went to her room and remained there about a quarter of an hour, and then went out. Deceased was still singing at that time. It was raining and witness returned home at 3:10 A.M., and the light in deceased’s room was then out and there was no noise. Witness could not sleep and heard a man go out of the court about a quarter past six. It might have been a policeman for all witness knew.
Testimony of Elizabeth Prater. Mrs. Prater, a married woman living apart from her husband, said she occupied No. 20 room, Miller’s Court, her room being just over that occupied by the deceased. If deceased moved about in her room much witness could hear her. Witness lay down on her bed on Thursday night about 1:30 with her clothes on and fell asleep directly. She was disturbed during the night by a kitten in the room. That would be about half-past three or four o’clock. She then distinctly heard in a low tone and in a woman’s voice a cry of “Oh! murder.” The sound appeared to proceed from the court and near where witness was. She did not take much notice of it, however, as they were continually hearing cries of murder in the court. She did not hear it a second time, neither did she hear a sound of falling, and she dropped off to sleep again and did not wake until five o’clock. Then she got up and went to the Five Bells public house and had some rum.
Testimony of Frederick G. Abberline, Detective Inspector, Scotland Yard. Witness had seen the condition of the room through the window. He examined the room after the door had been forced. From the appearance of the grate it was evident a very large fire had been kept up. The ashes had since been examined and it was evident that portions of a woman’s clothing had been burnt. It was his opinion that the clothes had been burnt to enable the murderer to see what he was about. There were portions of a woman’s skirt and the rim of a hat in the grate.
FURTHER REPORTS
November 12. Great excitement was caused shortly before ten o’clock last night by the arrest of a man with a blackened face who publicly proclaimed himself to be “Jack the Ripper.” This was at the corner of Wentworth Street, Commercial Street, near the scene of the latest crime. Two young men, one a discharged soldier, immediately seized him, and the great crowd—which always on a Sunday night parades this neighbourhood—raised a cry of “Lynch him.” Sticks were raised, the man was furiously attacked, and but for the timely arrival of the police he would have been seriously injured. The police took him to Leman Street Station, where the prisoner proved to be a very remarkable person. He refused to give any name but asserted that he was a doctor at St. George’s Hospital. He was about thirty-five years of age, five feet seven inches in height, of dark complexion, with dark moustache, and was wearing spectacles. In his pocket he had a double-peaked light-check cap.
November 13. During yesterday several arrests were made, but after a short examination in all cases the persons were set at liberty, as it was felt certain they had no connection with the crime.
As will be seen from our Parliamentary report, Sir Charles Warren tendered his resignation on Thursday last.
November 14. The following statement was made yesterday evening by George Hutchinson, a labourer: “At two o’clock on Friday morning as I passed Thrawl Street, I passed a man standing at the corner of the street, and as I went towards Flower and Dean Street I met the woman Kelly, whom I knew very well having been in her company a number of times. She said, ‘Mr. Hutchinson, can you lend me sixpence?’ I said I could not. She then walked towards Thrawl Street, saying she must go and look for some money. The man who was standing at the corner of Thrawl Street then came towards her and put his hand on her shoulder and said something to her which I did not hear and they both burst out laughing. He put his hand again on her shoulder and they both walked slowly towards me. I walked on to the corner of Fashion Street near the public house. As they came by me his arm was still on her shoulder. He had a soft felt hat on and this was drawn down somewhat over his eyes. I put down my head to look him in the face and he turned and looked at me very sternly, and they walked across the road to Dorset Street. I followed them across and stood at the corner of Dorset Street. They stood at the corner of Miller’s Court for about three minutes. Kelly spoke to the man in a loud voice, saying, ‘I have lost my handkerchief.’ He pulled a red handkerchief out of his pocket and gave it to Kelly and they both went up the court together. I went to look up the court to see if I could see them but could not. I stood there for three-quarters of an hour to see if they came down again, but they did not and so I went away. My suspicions were aroused by seeing the man so well dressed, but I had no suspicion that he was the murderer.
“The man was about five feet six inches in height, and thirty-four or thirty-five years of age, with dark complexion and dark moustache turned up at the ends. He was wearing a long dark coat trimmed with astrachan, a white collar with black necktie, in which was affixed a horseshoe pin. He looked like a foreigner. I went up the court and stayed there a couple of minutes but did not see any light in the house or hear any noise. I was out last night until t
hree o’clock looking for him. I could swear to the man anywhere. The man I saw carried a small parcel about eight inches long and it had a strap round it. He had it tightly grasped in his left hand. It looked as though it was covered with dark American cloth. He carried in his right hand, which he laid upon the woman’s shoulder, a pair of brown kid gloves. He walked very softly. I believe that he lives in the neighbourhood, and I fancied that I saw him in Petticoat Lane on Sunday morning but I was not certain.”
November 15. During yesterday several persons were detained by the police on suspicion of being concerned in the Dorset Street murder, but they were after a short detention allowed to go away. During the afternoon a City constable had an uncomfortable walk along the Commercial Road. The officer, who was in mufti and was wearing a low broad-brim hat of rather singular appearance, was quietly walking along the road when suddenly some persons called out that he was “Jack the Ripper.” Within a few seconds some hundreds of people surrounded the constable, who tried to evade them by increasing his pace, but the quicker he went the faster the mob followed until he was hemmed in on all sides. The results might have been serious for him had not some constables of the H Division come up, and the man, making known his identity to them, was got away from the mob.
One arrest caused more than usual excitement. A man stared into the face of a woman in the Whitechapel Road and she at once screamed out that he was “Jack the Ripper.” The man was immediately surrounded by an excited and threatening crowd, from which he was rescued with some difficulty by the police. He was then taken under a strong escort to the Commercial Street Police Station, followed by an enormous mob of men and women shouting and screaming at him in the most extraordinary manner. At the police station the man proved to be a German unable to speak a word of English. He explained through an interpreter that he arrived in London from Germany on Tuesday and was to leave for America today.
The Big Book of Jack the Ripper Page 8